06 May Opinion: Safety at Major Sporting Events Inquiry.
Culture, Media, and Sport Committee – House of Commons.
Safety at Major Sporting Events Inquiry. Published 29th December 2023.
Did anyone mention Stadium Medical Teams ?
The 2020 UEFA European Football Championship Final, held at Wembley in July 2021, the UEFA Champions League Final held at the Stade de France in Paris May 2022, and more recently the Europa Conference League match at Villa Park, there were once again episodes of serious disorder.
In December 2021 Baroness Casey of Blackstock was commissioned by the Football Association to undertake an independent review (The Casey Review) into the facts and circumstances of the Euro 2020 final (July 2021).
Following on from this, the House of Commons – Committee for Culture, Media, and Sport launched their own inquiry into major sporting events, looking at how spectator safety is maintained at stadiums in the UK, and how supporters can be better protected when travelling abroad; and to consider whether current policies are sufficient to maintain spectator safety.
A call for evidence was launched in July 2022. 25 pieces of written evidence were received, followed by the taking of oral evidence from key stakeholders. Subject Areas covered included: Protecting fans abroad. Policing (& Policing Zone Ex). Alcohol & Drug use. Stewarding. Stadium Management (& Safety Advisory Groups). No evidence from Medical Professionals included.
Recommendations included:
- Review fan safety outside the stadium (Zone Ex).
- Review drug & Alcohol use at sporting events.
- Consider wider engagement from Safety Advisory Groups.
- Clarity on roles and responsibilities of ‘Stewards’.
- Stadium design considerations.
Access the full report & recommendations: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/culture-media-and-sport committee/publications/reports-responses/
NEMO’s Opinion:
- It is unfortunate that in the report there is no reference to Event Medical provision.
- Event Medicine needs to be considered as a ‘key partner’ when Stadium Safety is being discussed.
- Considering the highlighted recommendations above, all are pertinent to Event Medicine provision, and for this reason event clinicians need to engage in improving Event Medicine’s governance & standards.
NEMO suggests … that Event Medicine is currently seen as being a ‘reactive resource’; and EM requires greater integration into Stadium Safety Models, and an established presence when it comes to Crowd Safety debate and Standard Setting.
What do you think ? What are your thoughts and experiences ?
Engage with NEMO, email: [email protected]